Manifolding



c. \MBRENN 2,213,157

. MANIFOLDING Aug. 27, 1940.

Filed March 24, 1938 ACME CO.

folded over by hand and passed under the pressure rollers so as to be set in place, but, after this operation has been done, the advancement of the pile of strips by the feeding means draws the binding strip from its supply roll and causes it to automatically fold over the edge of the' pile of strips. The feeding operation is preferably intermittent, and is so controlled that, when the strips stop, a line of division between adjacent sheets will be located beneath a cutofl knife, which then operates to cut the strips into sheet lengths.

It is important to note that the strips are adhesively secured together while they are yet under control of the registering pins, and therefore the registration established by these pins is maintained. As usual in such' manifolding sets, at the edge of the pile of sheets opposite the binding margin, the carbon sheets fall short of the record sheets, so that the record sheets may be independently grasped with the fingers of one hand while the binding margin is grasped with the fingers of the other hand, By pulling or snapping the two hands apart, the records are torn along the weakening lines provided for that purpose and separated from the binding margin. The carbons are not weakened and remain with the binding margin.

In collating the record and carbon strips, .this difference in width between the record and carbon would add diflflculties to the maintenance of the desired relative position of the record and carbon strips. With the registering and feeding pins of the present invention, however, once the records and carbons are brought into desired position by hand, this relation will be maintained, for the lateral edges of the respective strips are not depended upon for this purpose.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 shows a mrspective view of the snapout pack.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the snapout pack with the corner turnedback to expose the trans- Fig. 5 is a detail section taken through one of the apertures in the completed snapout pack.

' The present invention relates to manifolding snapout sets or packs, such as shown in perspective in Fig. l, which comprise a plurality of record sheets i0 and interleaved carbon sheets if, all secured in superposed manifolding relation.

The set is provided with a binding [2 extending transversely in the upper margin thereof which serves to lock the sheets together in a manner to be described. As shown in Fig. 3, the record sheets are provided with printed forms and a transverse line of weakening 13 extending thereacross in spaced relation to the top edge. The interleaved transfer sheets do not extend to the bottom of the pack but leave a margin which can be readily gripped so that the record sheets can be easily separated from the pile as desired.- The transfer strips are not provided with a-weakened line and remain with the binding on the pack after the record sheets have been removed.

These individual sets or packs can be used in typewriters or the like, or inscriptions can be made thereon manually by writing on the upper smart"? record sheet. Notations made on the upper record sheet will be transferred to the lower record sheets by means of the interleaved transfer sheets, and the record sheets are then removed from the set.

The sheets of the packs are locked in superposed relation by having portions of the binding strip, which is an element separate from the material of the sheets of the pack, pressed into the aligned and registered apertures in the sheets from both sides of the pack and caused to adhere together therein. In the present preferred form of the invention, the adhesion is achieved by providing the face of the tape, which is pressed into contact, with a coating of adhesive material.

The binding strip, being a separate element, can be made of any desired pliable material. It may be made of heavier or lighter material than the record sheets, or it may be paper, muslin, or other pliable binding material, or a combination of both paper and muslin, if desired. Preferably, the binding strip is coated all over one face with an adhesive material and is provided with a medial weakened line so that this face can be readily folded over the apertured edges of the record and carbon sheets. When it is so folded over the edges, it is pressed into engagement therewith so that the entire surface of the binding strip, ei-rcept for the portions which extend through the apertures, will adhere to the top and bottom record sheets, and the portions of the binding strip which extend through the apertures being secured together therein.

It is to be understood, however, that the present invention contemplates the use of any means which will cause the binding strip to adhere to the record strips and be present in and secured together in the apertures.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the binding stripit is preferably of a width, that, when folded around the apertured margin of the strip, it will cover the apertures but will not extend beyond the lines of weakness.

,With this form of locking means, it is not necessary to secure the superposed sheets together by adhesive material extending along the faces thereof adjacent one margin or to provide one of the record strips with an extending flap to be folded over the end to form a binder to cover the edge of sheets previously adhered together.

The novel method of manufacturing the manifolding sets contemplatesa continuous process in which a plurality of continuous record strips and interleaved carbon strips are passed through a collating device and are assembled and registered, bound in interlocked relation, and severed into individual sets.

The continuous record strips used in the present method are of uniform width and areprovided, along one margin thereof, with a plurality of spaced apertures IS. The carbon strips to be interleaved with the record strips are narrower than the record strips and are provided with a plurality of apertures I! along one edge thereof, the apertures being spaced to cooperate with apertures it. These strips are fed over a worktable i4 and are assembled in interleaved relation by means of a plurality of pins Ii which engage the apertures II and I1 and cause the strips to become registered; the spacing of the apertures in the record and transfer strips correspond' to the spacing of the pins I 5 on a movable slide ilc mounted to reciprocate in the top the binding strip is provided with a. weakened or of the worktoble. 'I'hese pins also serve as m for feeding the collated strips, preferably in a step-by-step manner. Since the strips are registered andfed by the apertures l8 and Il cooperating with the pins 85, the culty en= countered in maintaining the desired relative position of the record and carbon strips is avoided.

The line of weakening i3, referred to shove, extends longitudinally of the record strips and in spaced relation to the longitudinal edge thereof. As shown in Fig. i, the registering apertures it, ii are positioned in that zone extending between the line of weakening and the edge of the continuous strip.

The continuous record strips used in making the packs are printed with blank forms thereon (indicated at it) to be used for monifolding purposes. These forms may be printed on the continuous strips in any desired relation with re spect to the strip. In the preferred form of the (invention, however, the forms extend trans versely of the continuous strip with the head of the form adjacent the line of perforations. en printed in this nner, the registering apertures will not mutilate the form.

In the preferred form oi the invention, the registering apertures in the continuous record sheets and transfer sheets extend in alignment with the edge of the set. This arrangement, however, can he altered in any desired-manner so long as a plurelity of such apertures extend across the top of such printed form, which will constitute a pack or set.

As. the strips are fed by the registering mocha nism, the apertures extending elong'the marginal edge will he in vertical register. While the strips are in this condition, the binding tape is applied to secure the strim together. The hinding tum may be oi sny desired form so long as it contacts Tooth sides oi the collated set along one margin thereof. In the preferred form oi the invention, the binding tel-res the form oi ostrip of pliable materiel folded over the edge of the continuous interleaved record and transfer strips having the registering spertures therein.

To start the process, the binding 'rnnterial, which is positioned adjacent the longitudinal edge of the collated strips having the apertures therein, is withdrawn from the roll it. The face ill of the strip having adhesive thereon is passed over a moistenlng roller 2t, if the adhesive used is water-soluble adhesive, then around a dc roll 29 which guides the binding material into juxtaposition with the edge oi the collated strips hsving'the apertures therein. The strip is then led through a. folder til and folded over the edge or" the strip end psssedunder the pressing rollers 86 to be pressed into intimate engagement with the strips so as to adhere to the upper and lower record sheets and be pressed through the openings into ince-toengagement as she in Fig. 5.

Once the hing strip has been secured to the advancing collated strips, the feed of the strips will be sclent to withdraw the binding material from the roll. The strip will then autolnnticallv feed fromthe roll, turn into juxtaposition with the edge of the collated strips, be folded over the edge, end p into engagement with the advancing strip. This procedure will be continued as long as the strips are fed;

In order to insure that the fold will be proper and ti; the binding will extend over both sides oithe edge of the strips to the proper extent,

perforated line 35 extending longitudinally along the strip. Asthe strip passes through the folder, it will assume a. proper relation to the margin with the line of weakness positioned along the edge of the pile of strips.

The pressing rollers 35 can he of any suitable construction, preferably having a soft surface,

. which will enable them to follow the contour of the surface and thereby press the tape into intimate contact with the strips.

As will be seen in Fig. 5, which-shows a. detailed section of one of the registering apertures, the upper and lower portions of the strip will be pressed through the registering apertures by the action of the rollers and into faceto face contact with the adhesive surfaces engaging one another. This provides an adequate and secure interlock between the record and transfer sheets. While one opening will serve to hold each set together, thepreferred form of the invention provides each pack with a plurality of these openings in spaced relation across the top thereof tothereby more adequately hold the sheets in assembled manifoldingsrelation.

After the pile of strips have been bound and locked together, they are fed through a suitable severing means. The severing means 32 is positioned on the worlrtable. The intermittent feeding means will feed the strips along the worktahle, one form at s. time, and will position an edge of the form to be severed under the knife. The knife is operated in timed relation with the feeding mechanism and during the period of rest in the feed of the collated strips. If desired,

the record and transfer strips can he provided with a line of perforations 35 extending transversely thereof ct form width intervals to assist in the severing operation.

This method, as outlined shove, produces .snapout packs with a minimum or operations and lends itself admirably to large scale production, inasmuch as it can he opera as a continuous process. As the strips are i& through the collating mechanism, they are immediately houndond secured together in a single operation and then severed into the desired size. In previous practices, it was necessary first to collate the sets, then secure them together, and then hind them in separate steps. This greatly increases the cost of production, inasmuch as it requires additional operations on the strip.

While the binding strip has been described as heing provided with an adhesive surface which is moistened to cause it to adhere to the strips, any other material can he used so long as the binding tape will be locked in place when it is pressed against the puclr and will pass into the registering apertures in the set.

The pack {formed in accordance with the 1. In the method of preparing snapont mani- I folding sets, the steps of collating splurality 01 continuous record strips and interleaved transfor strips; registering and feeding said strips by means of apertures extending along one margin.

of the strips; guiding a separate continuous pli able element into juxtaposition to the apertured margin as the registered strips are advanced; folding said pliable element around the.adjacent edge of said apertured margin of the strips; and pressing the folded pliable element in such a manner that portions thereof -enter the apertures and lock the record strips and interleaved transfer strips together in registration.

2. In the method of preparing snapout manifolding sets, the steps of collating and registering a plurality of record strips and interleaved transfer strips by means of apertures extending along one margin of the strips; folding a continuous pliable element over the last-mentioned margin as the strips emerge from the collating and registering operation; and pressing the folded pliable element in such a manner that ortions thereof enter the apertures and lock the record strips and interleaved strips together in registration.

3. In the method of preparing snapout manifolding sets. the steps of collating and registering a plurality of record strips and interleaved transfer strips by means of apertures extending along one margin of the strips; folding a soparate continuous pliable element having an adhesive surface over and around the said apertured margin of the collated and registered strips; and pressing the foldedpliable element in such a manner that the adhesive surfaces adhere to the surface of the apertured margin of the top and bottom strim with portions of the adhesive surface entering the apertures and locking the record strips and interleaved transfer strips together in registration.

4. In the method of preparing snapout manifolding sets, the steps of collating and registering a plurality of record strips and interleaved transfer strips by means of apertures extending along one margin of the strips; folding a continuous pliable element having an adhesive surface over and around the apertured margin of the collated and registered strips; and pressing the folded pliable element in such a manner that portions thereof which enter the apertures have their adhesive surfaces in face-to-face engagement to lock the record strips and interleaved transfer strips together in registration.

5; In the method of preparing snapout manifolding sets, the steps of collating and registering a plurality of record strips and interleaved transfer strips by means of apertures extending along one margin of the strips; feeding a locking strip having adhesive on one face thereof over a moistening means and into juxtaposition with the last-named margin; folding the locking strip over the apertured margin of the collated and registered strips; and pressing the locking strip in such a manner that portions thereof enter the apertures and adhere together to lock the record strips and interleaved transfer strips together in registration.

6. In the method of preparing snapout manifolding sets, the steps of collating and registering a plurality of record strips having a line of weakness along one margin thereof and interleaved transfer strips by means of apertures disposed along the margin of the strips betwen the line of weakness and the edge of the strip; covering the marginal edge of the strip on both sides of the set between the line of weakness and the edge thereof with a continuous pliable element while the strips are registered; and pressing the continuous pliable element in such a manner that portions thereof enter the amrtures to lock the record strips and interleaved transfer strips together in registration.

7. In the method of preparing snapout manifolding sets, the steps of collating and registering a plurality of record strips and interleaved transfer strips by means of apertures extending along one margin of the strips; adhering a continuous pliable element to both sides of the collated set along the last-mentioned margin after the strips are collated-and registered; and pressing the pliable element in such a manner that portions thereof enter the apertures and lock the record strips and interleaved transfer strips together in registration.

' 8. In the method of preparing snapout manifolding sets, the steps of collating and registering a plurality of record strips and interleaved transfer strips by means ofapertures disposed along the adjacent margins of the strips; guiding a separate continuous pliable element into juxtaposition to the apertured margins of the strips as .the registered strips are advanced; folding said element along a longitudinal line of weakness to cover the marginal edge of the strips; and pressing the adhesive pliable element in such a manner that portions thereof enter the apertures and are adhesively secured together to lock the record strips and interleaved transfer strips together in registration with the longitudinal line of weakness in close proximity to the edges of said apertured margins.

9. In the method of preparing snapout manifolding sets, the steps of collating a plurality of continuous record strips and interleaved transfer strips; registering and feeding said strips by means of apertures extending along one margin of the strips; guiding a separate continuous pliable element into juxtaposition to the apertured margin as the registered strips are advanced; folding said pliable element around the adjacent edge of said apertured margin of the strips;

CARL W. BRENN. 

